The New York Arts Practicum went really well this summer, and will be running again this coming summer. I saw so much personal and artistic growth from the 10 participants over the short but super intense 8 weeks. Many of the participants were calling their experience: demystefying, life changing, and an inspirational reality check. The participants spent those 8 weeks meeting with artists and curators, working in their mentors’ studios, and making work for critique without access to their collegiate studio facilities. We met Tuesdays for a critique seminar, and Fridays for all day site visits in artist studios, curator talks, and visits to museums. The goal of the program is to bridge the gap between life as an art student and making art outside of school.

We visited Eva and Franco Mattes at their apartment for a conversation about their recent video interventions and performances in online forums such as Chat Roulette, YouTube, and Counter Strike. In the middle, we took a break on the patio. We closed off the seminar with a viewing/taping of their secret video.

Stephanie Pereira hosted us for a nearly two hour info session that covered the core issues in running a successful kickstarter campaign: be clear about what you are doing, set awesome but convincing/reasonable goals, tell a story, make your rewards engaging, communicate well with your community/fans/friends/mom, etc. Our extended conversation really explored how these are good practices for any kind of application (grant, residency, etc.)

Afterwards we visited Lower East Side galleries. Risa Needleman gave the New York Arts Practicum a walkthrough of the “Furniture” show at Invisible Exports.

Three great visits in two days to Jill Magid, Mark Tribe and Brody Condon’s studios.

Jill Magid told us the incredible story of her research trip to Texas where she happened to witness a capitol hill shooting. She showed us the model for her show that is up currently at Yvon Lambert in Paris, which is based off of police video and 911 audio tapes of another shooting in Texas.

Mark Tribe talked to the participants about how he came to be an artist, the difference between running an organization and making art, and his projects of the last few years.

Brody Condon gave the participants the opportunity to ask him any question they wanted. Faced with that total freedom/control, the participants were a bit like deer in the headlights. After a good long silence, Brody launched into a presentation of the mechanics of making projects, passing around the production binder for his most recent project. And then we sat and watched the full, gorgeous video itself.

About

New York Arts Practicum is a summer arts institute where participants experientially learn to bridge their lives as art students into lives as artists in the world. The program is structured around apprenticeships with mentor artists, a critique seminar where participants produce work without access to their institutional facilities, and site visits to artist workspaces, galleries, and museums. The intensive eight-week program offers participants a structured environment to experience the challenges of life as an artist and demystifies the many ways one can be an artist today.